North Davidson denies Southern Alamance

WELCOME — Mackenzie Hauser was locked in, Southern Alamance blinked and that could only mean one thing — another big day for North Davidson’s softball team.

Hauser fired a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and Rebecca Perrell went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in as the Black Knights shut out Southern Alamance 4-0 in the third round of the Class 4-A state playoffs Friday night.

North Davidson (26-2) hasn’t allowed a run in the playoffs. The Knights travel to Southeast Guilford for a fourth-round game Tuesday.

Hauser (13-1) was in firm command, permitting only one runner to get as far as third base. The senior right-hander did not walk a batter.

“It’s just one of those feelings,” Hauser said. “You get in the playoffs, it’s a different game. You’ve got to be zoned in. Every time you take the mound, it’s going toward expectations you always put forth.”

Of course that’s nothing new for Hauser, who has been pitching like that all season.

“She did a super job,” North Davidson coach Mike Lambros said. “When I walked out to the mound in the last inning she said, ‘Coach, we’ve got this.’ That’s the kind of thing you want to hear out of these kids.”

And there’s those blinks.

The Patriots committed two errors and made one bad decision on a bunt. That’s not a lot of mistakes but the Knights made them pay. The two errors led to three unearned runs and the misplay on the bunt led to the other run.

“At this time of the year or any time of the year in fast pitch, we call it blinking,” Lambros said. “Any time it happens, it costs you. We were fortunate.”

Southern Alamance ended the season with a 19-6 record.

“They’re a very good team,” said Southern Alamance coach Chris Miller. “You can’t make mistakes and we did. We got three hits, four hits, whatever it was. That ain’t enough against these people. Coach Lambros does a heck of a job. Good team.”

It didn’t take long for the Knights to pounce.

Bre Crumley singled with one out in the bottom of the first off Patriots starter Macy Moon and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Haley Pace flied out and it looked like Southern Alamance would get out of the inning unscathed when Paige Wall lofted an infield fly. But the ball glanced off second baseman Caleigh Brooks’ glove for an error. Crumley running all the way with two out, scored easily to give North Davidson a 1-0 lead.

Hauser retired nine batters in succession after Tessa Faucette led off the game with a single. At one point, she struck out four in a row.

The Patriots threatened in the sixth when Kayla Allison, who was 2-for-3, doubled off the fence in center and went to third on a passed ball. A strikeout and groundout ended the threat.

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